Methods, apparatuses, and systems for media calibration for printers

ABSTRACT

Printers capable of determining a media type of a media and associated methods are provided. An example method includes scanning a media with a verifier associated with the printer to generate at least two consecutive windows of the media. The example method further includes determining a vertical length of a captured image based on a comparison of image characteristic values captured in the at least two consecutive windows. The example method further includes determining a media characteristic associated with the media based at least on the captured image and the vertical length and one or more stored media profiles. The example method further includes calibrating the printer based on the media characteristic.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/792,356, filed Feb. 17, 2020. The entiredisclosure of each application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Notwithstanding the revolution in digital communications and digitaltransmission/viewing of documents, hardcopy printed media—printing ontotangible sheets of paper or labels—remains essential for many purposes.Hardcopy printing may be accomplished via multiple types of devices,including thermal printers, inkjet printing, and laser printers. In thisregard, Applicant has identified many deficiencies and problemsassociated with many printers. Through applied effort, ingenuity, andinnovation, many of these identified problems have been solved bydeveloping solutions that are included in embodiments of the presentdisclosure, many examples of which are described in detail herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present system and method may employ averifier that includes a line scanner, which, in an embodiment, may beintegrated within the printer itself. In some embodiments, a method fordetermining a media type of a media associated with a printer may beprovided. In some embodiments, the method comprises: scanning a mediawith a verifier associated with the printer to generate at least twoconsecutive windows of a media; determining a vertical length of acaptured image based on a comparison of image characteristic valuescaptured in the at least two consecutive windows; determining a mediacharacteristic associated with the media based at least on the capturedimage and the vertical length and one or more stored media profiles; andcalibrating the printer based on the media characteristic.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving one or moremedia profiles each associated with a media type. The mediacharacteristic includes a media type. In some embodiments, a linescanner sensor associated with a line scanner physically moves in avertical direction during the scanning.

In some embodiments, the scanning is associated with a pre-determinedwindow size defined by a horizontal width and a vertical length. In someembodiments, the media characteristic further includes a width. In someembodiments, the method further comprises: generating one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs based on the captured image; detecting oneor more changes of image characteristic value on the one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs; for each image characteristic value graph:determining a first point and a second point based one or more changesof image characteristic values; determining a pulse width based on thedistance between the first point and the second point; and determiningthe width based on the one or more pulse widths associated with each ofthe image characteristic value graphs.

In some embodiments, the media physically moves in a vertical directionduring the scanning. In some embodiments, the captured image comprisesone or more pre-defined vertical sample lines associated with a linescanner sensor associated with the line scanner. In some embodiments,one media profile of the one or more media profiles is associated with agap media type. In some embodiments, determining that the media isassociated with the gap media type comprises: generating one or moreimage characteristic value graphs associated with each of the one ormore sample lines; detecting one or more decreases of imagecharacteristic values in the one or more image characteristic valuegraphs that exceeds a gap threshold; and determining that the media isassociated with the gap media type.

In some embodiments, one media profile of the one or more media profilesis associated with a continuous media type. In some embodiments,determining that the media is associated with the continuous media typecomprises: generating one or more image characteristic value graphsassociated with each of the one or more sample lines; detecting that oneor more image characteristic values in the one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs do not increase or decrease by more than acontinuous threshold; and determining that the media is associated withthe continuous media type. In some embodiments, one media profile of theone or more media profiles is associated with a blackmark media type. Insome embodiments, determining that the media is associated with theblackmark media type comprises: generating one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs associated with each of the one or moresample lines; detecting that at least one image characteristic value inthe one or more image characteristic value graphs increase or decreaseby more than a blackmark darkness threshold for more than a blackmarksize threshold; and determining that the media is associated with theblackmark media type.

In some embodiments, the calibrating comprises adjusting a label stopposition.

In some embodiments, a printer is provided. The printer comprises a linescanner configured to scan a media to generate at least two consecutivewindows of a media; and a device configured to: determine a verticallength of a captured image based on a comparison of image characteristicvalues captured in the at least two consecutive windows; determine amedia characteristic associated with the media based at least on thecaptured image, the vertical length, and the one or more media profiles;and calibrate the printer based on the media characteristic.

In some embodiments, the device is further configured to receive one ormore media profiles each associated with a media type. In someembodiments, the media characteristic includes a media type.

In some embodiments, the media physically moves in a vertical directionduring the scanning. In some embodiments, the scanning is associatedwith a pre-determined window size defined by a horizontal width and avertical length and the media characteristic further includes a width.In some embodiments, the device is further configured to: generate oneor more image characteristic value graphs based on the captured image;detect one or more changes of image characteristic value on the one ormore image characteristic value graphs; for each image characteristicvalue graph: determine a first point and a second point based one ormore changes of image characteristic values; determine a pulse widthbased on the distance between the first point and the second point; anddetermine the width based on the one or more pulse widths associatedwith each of the image characteristic value graphs.

In some embodiments, a line scanner sensor associated with the linescanner physically moves in a vertical direction during the scanning. Insome embodiments, the captured image comprises two overlapping windowseach associated with the pre-determined window size. In someembodiments, the captured image comprises one or more pre-definedvertical sample lines associated with the line scanner sensor.

In some embodiments, one media profile of the one or more media profilesis associated with a gap media type. In some embodiments, determiningthat the media is associated with the gap media type comprises:generating one or more image characteristic value graphs associated witheach of the one or more sample lines; detecting one or more decreases ofimage characteristic values in the one or more image characteristicvalue graphs that exceeds a gap threshold; and determining that themedia is associated with the gap media type. In some embodiments, onemedia profile of the one or more media profiles is associated with acontinuous media type. In some embodiments, determining that the mediais associated with the continuous media type comprises: generating oneor more image characteristic value graphs associated with each of theone or more sample lines; detecting that one or more imagecharacteristic values in the one or more image characteristic valuegraphs do not increase or decrease by more than a continuous threshold;and determining that the media is associated with the continuous mediatype.

In some embodiments, one media profile of the one or more media profilesis associated with a blackmark media type. In some embodiments,determining that the media is associated with the blackmark media typecomprises: generating one or more image characteristic value graphsassociated with each of the one or more sample lines; detecting that atleast one image characteristic value in the one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs increase or decrease by more than ablackmark darkness threshold for more than a blackmark size threshold;and determining that the media is associated with the blackmark mediatype. In some embodiments, the calibrating comprises adjusting a labelstop position.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplaryobjectives and/or advantages of the present disclosure, and the mannerin which the same are accomplished, are further explained within thefollowing detailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary print media, according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2A graphically illustrates a portion of an exemplaryprinter-verifier (a cover of the printer-verifier removed) to illustratean interior thereof, according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2B schematically depicts a block diagram of the printer-verifier ofFIG. 2A, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 schematically depicts an exemplary printer communicativelycoupled to a verifier in a system for printing an image, according tovarious embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional schematic view of some internal operatingelements of an exemplary printer, according to various embodiments ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for determining mediacharacteristic, such as media type, media size, or the like, of a mediaaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary scan of a media and associatedgeneration of a captured image of the media according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating additional details of an exemplarymethod for determining media type of a media type according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 illustrates several exemplary image characteristic value graphsgenerated based on captured image and illustrated vertical sample linesaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating additional details of an exemplarymethod for determining media horizontal width according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 illustrates several exemplary image characteristic value graphsgenerated based on captured image and illustrated horizontal samplelines according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating additional details for generatingmedia profiles according to various embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Some embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all embodiments of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, thesedisclosures may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, suchas, “comprises” and comprising” are to be construed in an open sense,that is as “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, theparticular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined inany suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The word example” or “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as anexample, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described hereinas “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations.

If the specification states a component or feature “may,” “can,”“could,” “should,” “would,” “preferably,” “possibly,” “typically,”“optionally,” “for example,” “often,” or “might” (or other suchlanguage) be included or have a characteristic, that a specificcomponent or feature is not required to be included or to have thecharacteristic. Such component or feature may be optionally included insome embodiments, or it may be excluded.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described inrelation to a thermal transfer printer. However, the present disclosuremay be equally applicable to other types and styles of printers(inclusive of printer-verifiers) (e.g., a thermal printer, a laserprinter, an ink drop printer, etc.).

The headings provided herein are for convenience only and do not limitthe scope or meaning of the claimed disclosure.

I. Definitions and Overview

Media calibration refers to detecting media types, such as, continuous,gap, and blackmark media and media size (e.g., length and width) so asto enable a printer to accurately print at or near a media edge. In someexamples, printers may conduct media calibration by using light sensorsand reading analog values of the light sensors to detect a difference inlight and determine whether the difference is significant enough to beindicative of a gap between media or a mark on the media. In thisexample, the result is highly dependent on the sensitivity of the lightreceiving sensors and the power of the light transmitting sensor.Therefore, such printers may have a higher likelihood for falsedetection of media type when, for example, the media containspre-printed information, abnormalities, and/or the like.

Various example embodiments of the present disclosure provide systemsand methods that may be utilized by a printer to determine mediacharacteristics. In some examples, the systems and methods disclosedherein rely on a mechanism for capturing an image of the media, such asby utilizing, for example, a verifier (e.g., a line scanner), a scanner,and/or the like. In some examples, patterns of a scanned image may beidentified and/or otherwise processed to determine the media type andwidth/length of the media, which may assist the printing process.Indeed, and in some examples, reliance on a verifier may allow theprinter to advantageously, in some examples, detect the width of themedia.

The terms “print media,” “physical print media,” “paper,” and “labels”refer to tangible, substantially durable physical material onto whichtext, graphics or images may be imprinted and persistently retained overtime.

In some examples, physical print media may be used for personalcommunications, business communications, and/or to convey proseexpression (including news, editorials, product data, academic writings,memos, and many other kinds of communications), data, advertising,fiction, entertainment content, and illustrations and pictures.

Physical print media may generally be derivatives of wood pulp orpolymers, and includes conventional office paper, clear or tintedacetate media, news print, envelopes, mailing labels, product labels,and other kinds of labels. Thicker materials, such as cardstock orcardboard, may be included as well. More generally, print media may beused to receive ink, dye, or toner, or is a media whose color or shadingcan be selectively varied (for example, through selective application ofheat, light, or chemicals) to create a persistent visual contrast (inblack and white, shades of gray, and/or colors) that can be perceived bythe human eye as text, images, shapes, symbols, or graphics.

In exemplary embodiments discussed throughout the present disclosure,reference may be made specifically to “paper” or “labels;” however, theoperations, system elements, and methods of such exemplary applicationsmay be applicable to media other than or in addition to the specificallymentioned “paper” or “labels.”

A “printer” may refer to a device which imprints text, images, shapes,symbols, graphics, and/or the like onto print media to create apersistent, human-readable representation of the text, images, shapes,symbols, or graphics. Printers may include, for example, laser printers,light-emitting diode (LED) printers, inkjet printers, thermal printers,dot matrix printers, impact printers, and line printers.

Generally, printers are designed so that one or more sheets of paper,one or more labels, or other print media can be inserted or “fed” intothe printer. For example, multiple sheets or other media can be insertedinto a holding tray or other container element of the printer fortemporary storage. In alternative or additional embodiments, individualsheets of print media may be hand-fed into a printer one at a time.Command and content instructions are then sent to the printerelectronically, for example, from an external computer that iscommunicatively linked to the printer. The printer feeds a sheet ofpaper, or a label, or other print media into itself and towards aprinthead within the printer. The printhead of the printer then imprintthe appropriate contents onto the print media.

Further, the term “printer” refers to both a printer-verifier (in whicha printer and verifier are integrated in a single device) such asexemplified in FIGS. 2A-2B and a separate printer as exemplified in FIG.3. As depicted in FIG. 3, and hereinafter described, the separateprinter 328 may be communicatively coupled to a verifier 302 in a system300 for printing an image and verifying a print quality of the image.The verifier 302 may be attached to the printer 328 or may be astandalone device to where the user brings the print media from theprinter for determining media characteristics.

As depicted in FIGS. 2A-2B, printer-verifier 200 may be configured for,scanning the media to determine media characteristics, printing theimage, and/or verifying a print quality of the image printed on printmedium, as hereinafter described. Additionally or alternatively,printer-verifier 200 may be configured for printing the image, and averifier may be configured for verifying the print quality of the imageprinted on print medium. As used herein, the “image” may be text, aline, a box, a symbol, a barcode, optical character recognition (OCR)text, etc.

In some instances, the print media (for example, paper or labels), whenfirst fed or loaded into the printer, may be “pre-printed media,” whichmay have at least one pre-printed document element such as preprintedtext, markings, or logos. In other words, prior to a current printoperation, there can be prior information on the print media that hasbeen imprinted by some prior print process employing a prior printer,and is referred to as containing “pre-printed document element”,“pre-printed information”, or “pre-printed content.”

In some example embodiments and based on the media calibration describedherein, the printer-verifier 200 may enable correct horizontalpositioning or vertical positioning of a printed image on a printmedium. The term “correct horizontal positioning” means that the printedimage is automatically and consistently printed as intended, such aswithin the boundaries of a print area of the print medium or at thecenter of the print medium, etc., depending on preference. Variousembodiments enable positioning the image to be printed properly withregard to the horizontal or vertical edges of the print medium, suchthat the printing is reliably and consistently in horizontal or verticalregister. Various embodiments enable the horizontal position to be fixedautomatically for each print medium in real-time without userinteraction.

As used herein, “horizontal direction” refers to the weft directionperpendicular to the movement of the print media and parallel to theprinthead. As used herein, the term “vertical direction” refers to thedirection parallel with the movement of the print media.

As used herein, “media characteristic” refers to information regarding amedia that can be determined by analyzing image characteristic valuesobtained from a line scanner scanning the media. Examples of mediacharacteristic include media type, gap or blackmark size, mediahorizontal width, media vertical length, or the like.

As used herein, the term “image characteristic values” refers to one ormore values associated with an image that represent lightness, darkness,or color information such as grayscale values, values of color valuescales, or other applicable values that may represent lightness,darkness, or color information in an image. Image characteristic valuesmay be stored in an image characteristic profile.

As used herein, “media type” refers to pre-defined categorization ofmedia, such as gap, continuous, or blackmark media. As used herein,“media profile” refers to a bitmap image characteristic profileassociated with a media type to be compared with samples of a capturedimage of the media. For example, a gap media type defines at least onegap threshold and defines that if one or more image characteristicvalues associated with one or more sampled lines decrease by an amountthat exceeds a threshold, a media associated with the one or more imagecharacteristic values are determined to be gap media type. In anotherexample, a continuous media profile defines at least one continuousthreshold and defines that if one or more image characteristic valuesassociated with one or more sampled lines do not increase or decrease byan amount that exceeds a threshold, a media associated with the one ormore image characteristic values are determined to be continuous mediatype. In another example, a blackmark media profile defines at least oneblackmark darkness threshold and a black mark size threshold and definesthat if one or more image characteristic value graphs increase ordecrease by more than the blackmark darkness threshold for more than ablackmark size threshold, a media associated with the one or more imagecharacteristic values are determined to be blackmark media type. In someembodiments, the media profile and one or more thresholds defined in themedia profile may be pre-defined. Alternatively or additionally, aprocessor may generate a media profile in real-time and/or in semi-realtime.

FIG. 1 illustrates some elements of example media 100A. The media 100Aincludes label 102 and media liner 104. The media 100A may furtherinclude printed document elements such as text (in any known alphabet),numbers, mathematical or musical symbols, geometric forms, shapes, andsymbols, and icons. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the printed content isprinted at or near the edge of the label. As is described herein, thedisclosed methods and systems enable continuous media calibration so asto enable the printer to accurately print at or near the edges of thelabel.

II. Example Apparatus for Implementing Embodiments of the PresentDisclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented as apparatusand systems for determining media characteristics and calibrating theprinter based on the determined characteristics.

The present system and method are applicable to different kinds ofprinters, including but not limited to laser printers, LED printers,inkjet printers, thermal printers, dot matrix printers, and others. Forconvenience, an exemplary laser printer is illustrated and discussed insome exemplary embodiments below, and these embodiments can be employedon other kinds of printers as well.

A. Printer and Printer with Verifier/Scanner

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2B, an exemplary printer-verifier 200 capableof printing on print media 212 is partially shown. The depictedprinter-verifier 200 of FIG. 2A has a body 218 for enclosing an interiorthereof. The printer-verifier 200 further comprises a power source and amoveable cover for accessing the interior and any components therein.

In various embodiments, the printer-verifier 200 is a thermal transferprinter-verifier that includes a ribbon supply spindle 230 containedwithin the body 218. A ribbon supply roll 208 is configured to bedisposed on the ribbon supply spindle 230. The ribbon supply roll 208comprises ink ribbon 202 wound on a ribbon supply spool 204. The inkribbon supplies the media (e.g., ink) that transfers onto the printmedia. The printer-verifier 200 may further comprise a thermal printhead216 utilized to thermally transfer a portion of ink from the ink ribbon202 to the print media 212 as the ink ribbon is unwound from the ribbonsupply spool 204 along a ribbon path (arrow B in FIG. 2A), and the printmedia 212 is unwound from a media supply spool 214 along a media path(arrow C in FIG. 2A).

A media supply roll 210 comprises the print media 212 wound on the mediasupply spool 214. A media supply spindle 232 on which the media supplyroll 210 is configured to be disposed is contained within the body 218.In some embodiments, the print media 212 may be pre-printed media thatmay include at least one pre-printed document element such as preprintedtext, markings, or logos. ribbon rewind spindle 234 on which unwoundribbon is wound up may also be contained within the body 218. A ribbontake-up 206 may be disposed on the ribbon rewind spindle 234, althoughthe ribbon take-up 206 on the ribbon rewind spindle 234 may not benecessary.

The printer-verifier 200 may further comprise one or more motors forrotating the ribbon supply spindle 230 and the ribbon supply roll 208disposed thereon (if present) in a forward (arrow A in FIG. 2A) or abackward rotational direction (dependent on the ink surface), forrotating the media supply roll 210 disposed on the media supply spindle232 in a forward rotational direction, and for rotating the ribbonrewind spindle 234. In a thermal direct printer-verifier, the ribbonsupply spool, the ribbon rewind spool, and the ribbon may be eliminatedand a thermally sensitive paper replaces the print media. Thesecomponents are also included in a printer-verifier 200 as hereinafterdescribed.

The printer-verifier 200 may include a GUI 222 for communication betweena user and the printer-verifier 200. The GUI 222 may be communicativelycoupled to the other components of the printer-verifier for displayingvisual and/or auditory information and receiving information from theuser (e.g., typed, touched, spoken, etc.). As depicted in FIG. 2A, thebody 218 of the printer-verifier 200 may include the GUI 222 with, forexample, a display 224 and a keypad 226 with function buttons 228 thatmay be configured to perform various typical printing functions (e.g.,cancel print job, advance print media, and the like) or be programmablefor the execution of macros containing preset printing parameters for aparticular type of print media. The graphical user interface (GUI) 222may be supplemented or replaced by other forms of data entry or printercontrol, such as a separate data entry and control module linkedwirelessly or by a data cable operationally coupled to a computer, arouter, or the like. The GUI 222 may be operationally/communicativelycoupled to a processor (CPU) 220 for controlling the operation of theprinter-verifier 200, in addition to other functions. In someembodiments, the user interface may be different from the one depictedin FIG. 2A. In some embodiments, there may not be a user interface.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, an example block diagram of theprinter-verifier 200 is shown. The printer-verifier 200 may comprise theprocessor 220, a memory 240 communicatively coupled to the processor220, and a power source. The printer may further comprise acommunications module 242 communicatively coupled to one or more of theother printer components.

The central processing unit (CPU) (i.e., the processor 220) is theelectronic circuitry within a computer that carries out the instructionsof a computer program by performing the basic arithmetic, logical,control and input/output (I/O) operations specified by the instructionsas hereinafter described. The printer-verifier 200 may becommunicatively connected using the communications module 242 to acomputer or a network 244 via a wired or wireless data link. In awireless configuration, the communications module 242 may communicatewith a host device over the network 244 via a variety of communicationprotocols (e.g., WI-FI® BLUETOOTH®), CDMA, TDMA, or GSM). In accordancewith various embodiments of the present disclosure, the memory 240 isconfigured to store a media type determination program 246, a mediaprofile 248, an offset value 250, and a drifting offset value 252 ashereinafter described.

Still referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an imaging circuitry 236 is disposedin the printer-verifier 200 and is configured to capture arepresentation of the print media (e.g., barcode 254 on print medium 212within pre-defined window 256), using a line scanner 258 (i.e., theimaging circuitry 236 comprises the line scanner 258) to obtain acaptured image. The line scanner 258 comprises one or more line scannersensors 260 for scanning an image. The line scanner 258 scans the printmedium 212 as the line scanner 258 and print medium 212 are in relativemotion with each other. Electronic signals from the photo sensors areused to create one or more images, such as grayscale or colored images.

The processor 220 is further configured to determine if the capturedimage conforms to the media profile 248 by generating one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs based on the captured image and analyzingthe one or more image characteristic value graphs using thresholdsdefined in the media profile.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an example printer 328 communicatively coupledto verifier 302 in system 300 for printing an image is shown. Printer328 may be similar to the printer-verifier 200 depicted in FIGS. 2A-2B,except that the imaging circuitry of the verifier is separated from theprinter in system 300. In this regard, printer 328 has a body forenclosing an interior thereof. The printer 328 further comprises a powersource and a moveable cover for accessing the interior. Similar to theprinter-verifier 200 described above in connection with FIGS. 2A-2B, theprinter 328 may comprise a ribbon supply spindle contained within thebody. A ribbon supply roll is configured to be disposed on the ribbonsupply spindle. The ribbon supply roll ink ribbon wound on a ribbonsupply spool. The ink ribbon supplies the media (e.g., ink) thattransfers onto the print media.

Similar to the printer-verifier 200 described above in connection withFIGS. 2A-2B, the printer 328 may further comprise a thermal printheadutilized to thermally transfer a portion of ink from the ink ribbon tothe print media, as the ink ribbon unwinding from the ribbon supplyspool along a ribbon path and the print media unwinding from a mediasupply spool along a media path. In some embodiments, the print mediamay be pre-printed media that may have at least one pre-printed documentelement such as preprinted text, markings, or logos. A media supply rollcomprises the print media wound on the media supply spool. A mediasupply spindle (on which the media supply roll is configured to bedisposed) is contained within the body. A ribbon rewind spindle on whichunwound ribbon is wound up may also be contained within the body. Aribbon take-up may be disposed on the ribbon rewind spindle, althoughthe ribbon take-up on the ribbon rewind spindle may not be necessary.

The printer 328 may further comprise one or more motors for rotating theribbon supply spindle and the ribbon supply roll disposed thereon (ifpresent) in a forward or a backward rotational direction (dependent onthe ink surface), for rotating the media supply roll disposed on themedia supply spindle in a forward rotational direction, and for rotatingthe ribbon rewind spindle. In a direct transfer printer-verifier, theribbon supply spool, the ribbon rewind spool, and the ribbon may beeliminated and a thermally sensitive paper substituted for the printmedia.

Similar to the printer-verifier 200 described above in connection withFIGS. 2A-2B, the printer 328 may further comprise a processor, a memorycommunicatively coupled to the processor, and a power source. Theprinter may further comprise a communications module communicativelycoupled to one or more of the other printer components. The printer 328may have a fewer or greater number of components as hereinafterdescribed.

The verifier 302 comprises imaging circuitry 336, a memory (a verifiermemory 314) communicatively coupled to the imaging circuitry 336 and acentral processing unit (CPU) (herein a “verifier processor” 310)communicatively coupled to the verifier memory 314 and imaging circuitry336. The verifier 302 may further comprise an I/O module 322 and averifier communication module 316.

The subsystems in the verifier 302 of FIG. 3 are electrically connectedvia a coupler (e.g., wires, traces, etc.) to form an interconnectionsubsystem. The interconnection system may include power buses or lines,data buses, instruction buses, address buses, etc., that allow operationof the modules/subsystems and the interaction there between. The I/Omodule 322 may include a verifier graphical user interface. In variousembodiments, the verifier 302 may be communicatively connected using theverifier communication module 316 to the computer or the network 318 viaa wired or wireless data link. In a wireless configuration for thewireless data link, the verifier communication module 316 maycommunicate with a host device, such as the computer, or the network318, via a variety of communication protocols (e.g., WI-FI®, BLUETOOTH®,NEC®, RFID®), CDMA, TDMA, or GSM). The verifier memory 314 may store amedia type determination program 320, the media profile 323, the offset324, and the drifting offset 326.

While FIG. 3 depicts a verifier memory 314 and a verifier processor 310in the verifier 302, it is to be understood that only the printer 328 oronly the verifier 302, or both the printer 328 and verifier 302communicatively coupled thereto may comprise the memory and theprocessor for executing the steps as hereinafter described (i.e., atleast one of the verifier and the printer comprises a memorycommunicatively coupled to the imaging circuitry and a processorcommunicatively coupled to the imaging circuitry and memory). Theverifier 302 that is attached to the printer may rely on the memory andthe processor of printer for executing the steps as hereinafterdescribed while the verifier 302 that is a standalone device has its ownverifier memory 314 and verifier processor 310 for executing the stepsas hereinafter described. Additionally, or alternatively, the printermay rely on the verifier memory 314 and the verifier processor 310 ofverifier 302 attached to the printer for executing the steps ashereinafter described.

The imaging circuitry 336 disposed in verifier 302 is configured tocapture a representation of the print, using a line scanner (i.e., theimaging circuitry 236 comprises the line scanner) to obtain a capturedimage. The line scanner comprises one or more line scanner sensors forscanning an image. The line scanner scans the print medium 312 as theline scanner and print medium 312 are in relative motion with eachother. Electronic signals from the line scanner sensors may be used tocreate grayscale or colored image.

While a thermal transfer printer-verifier and printer are described, itis to be understood that various embodiments of the present disclosuremay be used in other types of printers (e.g., ink-drop printer,laser-toner printer, etc.). It is also to be understood that the printmedia can be supplied from other than a media supply spindle (e.g., in a“fan-fold” configuration).

B. Printer with a Line Scanner

FIG. 4 illustrates some elements of an exemplary printer 400 in across-sectional, schematic view. While FIG. 4 illustrates a laserprinter, it is noted that thermal printers and thermal printheads mayalso be utilized in conjunction with embodiments of the disclosure.

Printer 400 employs a laser 436 (for example, a semiconductor laser) toproject laser light 420 onto an electrically charged, rotatingcylindrical photoreceptor drum 428 (also referred to a “printhead 428”).The laser light 420 is suitably modulated (via printer electronics,discussed below) in accordance with a rasterized image (and/orrasterized text) on a source document page.

Photoconductivity on the photoreceptor drum 428 allows the chargedelectrons to fall away from the areas exposed to light. Powdered ink(toner) 412 particles are then electrostatically attracted to thecharged areas of the photoreceptor drum 428 that have not beenlaser-beamed. Print media 401 a, such as paper or other print media(such as acetate or labels, etc.), is passed through printer 400 bymechanical feed elements, such as paper guides/rollers 430. The printmedia 401 a is transferred along paper path/direction 444. Alongpath/direction 444, the print media 401 a makes contact with thephotoreceptor drum 428. The photoreceptor drum 428 then transfers theimage onto print media 401 a by direct contact. Finally the paper orother print media 401 a is passed onto a fuser 426, which uses intenseheat to instantly fuse the toner/image onto the paper. The result isprinted document 401 b, which is imprinted with the durable, persistentimage of the original raster-scanned page view.

Exemplary printer 400 may employ other elements as well. One or moremotors and other electromechanical mechanisms are typically employed forpurposes such as rotating the polygonal mirror which may be part ofoptics 418; driving the paper guides/rollers 430 which propel printmedia 401 a through the printer: rotating photoreceptor drum 428 andother rotary-elements; and generally effectuating transfer of printmedia 401 a and materials within printer 400.

A variety of internal sensors may also be present in printer 400. Forexample, sensor 434 a may monitor the temperature and/or pressure offuser 426. Sensor 434 b may monitor the amount of toner 412 left intoner hopper 414. Other sensors may monitor paper movement, the amountof electric charge on various elements, the rotary speed of variousrotating elements, and other aspects of operations of printer 400. Someelements of printer 400 may have built-in sensors. Sensors are usefulfor monitoring the operational status of printer 400, and foridentifying and reporting operational problems or errors.

A motherboard 402 typically holds and interconnects various microchipsused to control and monitor printer 400. Motherboard 402 may include,for example and without limitation, a central processing unit (CPU) orMCU 404, static memory 406, raster memory, dynamic/volatile memory 408,control circuits (ASICs) 410, and system bus 416.

A central processing unit (CPU) (or microcontroller unit (MCU)) 404provides overall operational control of printer 400. This includesmonitoring printer operations via sensors 434 a and 434 b, and directingprinter operations via various application specific integrated circuits(ASICs) 410 discussed further below.

Static memory 406 may store non-volatile operational code (such asinternal device drivers) for printer 400. CPU/MCU 404 may employ thecode stored in static memory 406 in order to maintain the operationalcontrol of printer 400.

Volatile printer raster memory 408, such as dynamic RAM (DRAM), may beused to store data received from external computers, such as pagedescriptions, raster images, and other data pertinent to the printing ofparticular documents.

Control of printer 400 may be maintained in various ways. In someembodiments, CPU/MCU 404 of printer 400 may directly control variouselements of the printer (such as motors and other mechanical servers,etc.). In other instances, control may be effectuated by CPU/MCU 404 viavarious Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) 410, which actas intermediary control circuits 410.

Control circuits 410 may support such functions as external input/output(for example, via USB ports, an Ethernet port, or wirelesscommunications): a control interface for a user control panel orwireless remote on the outside of the printer; mechanical control ofmotors and other electromechanical elements; and control of laser 436.In some embodiments of the printer 400, some or all control circuits 410may not be on motherboard 402, and may instead by integrated directly inlaser 436, fuser 426, toner hopper 414, and into various otherelectromechanical elements of printer 400.

A system bus 416 may serve to transfer data and messages betweenelements of motherboard 402, and between motherboard 402 and variousother microchips, controllers, and sensors 434 a and 434 b of printer400.

In various embodiments of the present disclosure, different printers 400may implement these steps described above in distinct ways, and someelements may be referred to by other terms or generic terms. Forexample, the elements directly responsible for printing onto the printmedia 401 a may be referred to generically as the printhead 428. Inexemplary printer 400, either the photoreceptor drum 428 alone, orpossibly the photoreceptor drum 428 in combination with fuser 426, maybe thought of as the printhead 428. As another example, LED printers usea linear array of light-emitting diodes to “write” the light on thedrum, and the array of light-emitting diodes may be referred to as theprinthead 428. As another example, a thermal printer uses aheat-emitting element as the printhead 428.

In various embodiments of a printer 400, the toner 412 is based oneither wax or plastic, so that when the paper passes through the fuser426, the particles of toner melt. The fuser 426 can be an infrared oven,a heated pressure roller, or (on some very fast, expensive printers) axenon flash lamp. The warm-up process that a laser printer goes throughwhen power is initially applied to the printer consists mainly ofheating the fuser element.

In various embodiments of a printer 400, a scanner 405 that includes aline scanner may be included in the printer 400. As may be appreciatedfrom FIG. 4, the scanner 405 may be structurally situated within printer400 so that the scanner 405 may scan print media 401 a when the paperhas not yet been imprinted by printer 400. The scanner 405 may includeone or more line scanner sensors. During scanning, one or more of theline scanner sensors or the printed media 401A may be physically moving.In some embodiments, the scanner 405 is positioned along paperpath/direction 444 so as to be before or after the photoreceptor drum orprinthead 428 along paper path/direction 444. In any case, the scanner405 may scan the print media 401 a before printing.

As described above, various embodiments of the present disclosure may beemployed in a thermal printer. A thermal printer may have many elementsin common with the exemplary printer-verifier 200 of FIGS. 2A-2B,printer 328 of FIG. 3, printer 400 of FIG. 4, including (for example andwithout limitation) a paper tray or paper trays, paper guides/rollers, ascanner, a motherboard with a variety of appropriate microchips, andother elements. Some of these elements may be arranged or configureddifferently for a thermal printer as compared to a laser printer. Athermal printer also has a printhead, but the printhead of a thermalprinter may be distinctive in design from the printhead of a laserprinter.

III. Example Method for Implementing Example Embodiments of the PresentDisclosure

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 500 for determining mediacharacteristic, such as media type, media size, or the like, of a mediaassociated with a printer, such as printer 400 that employs a scanner405 as described above. The method and flowchart highlight the mainsteps of an exemplary embodiment, details of which are further describedin connection with FIGS. 8-11.

It will be understood that exemplary method 500 may performed by ahardware processor (such as processor 220, processor 404, verifierprocessor 310, or the like) of an exemplary printer, in conjunction withor controlled by suitable computer code which implements the method. Thecode may be encoded directly into either of the logic of processor 220,processor 404, or verifier processor 310, or may be stored as firmwarein a static memory (such as static memory 406, static memory associatedwith verifier memory 314, static memory associated with memory 240 orthe like), or may be part of device driver code stored (for example,volatile printer raster memory 408, verifier memory 314, memory 240, orthe like). In an alternative embodiment, the method 500 may be performedin whole or in part by a hardware processor of an external computerwhich is linked to a printer by a suitable wired or wirelesscommunications means.

Method 500 begins with step 505, where the printer receives or otherwiseaccesses one or more media profiles. In some embodiments, each of theone or more media profiles may be associated with a media type. The oneor more media profiles may be stored in printer raster memory 408,static memory 406, or verifier memory 314. In some embodiments, the oneor more media profiles may include a gap media type, a blackmark mediatype, and a continuous media type. Whereas in alternative or additionalexamples, the processor may generate a media profile in real-time and insemi-real time.

In some embodiments and in an instance in which media is scanned with averifier, scanner, or the like, image characteristic values such asgrayscale or color values may be stored. As such, in some examples, agap media type may define at least one gap threshold. For example, ifone or more image characteristic values associated with one or moresampled lines decrease by an amount that exceeds a threshold, a mediaassociated with the one or more image characteristic values may bedetermined to be a gap media type. In some embodiments, a continuousmedia profile may define at least one continuous threshold. For example,if one or more image characteristic values associated with one or moresampled lines do not increase or decrease by an amount that exceeds athreshold, a media associated with the one or more image characteristicvalues may be determined to be a continuous media type. In someembodiments, a blackmark media profile may define at least one blackmarkdarkness threshold and a black mark size threshold. For example, if oneor more image characteristic value graphs increase or decrease by morethan the blackmark darkness threshold for more than a blackmark sizethreshold, a media associated with the one or more image characteristicvalues are determined to be blackmark media type. Additional detailsregarding the example media types are described with reference to FIG.7.

In step 510 of method 500, a scanner 405 may scan a new sheet of media401 a to generate a captured image of the media. The captured image maybe stored in printer raster memory 408. In some embodiments, the imagescanner 405 is a line scanner that includes one or more line scannersensors. In some embodiments, the line scanner sensor and/or the mediaphysically moves during the scanning. The direction where the mediamoves may be defined as the vertical direction. In some embodiments, thecaptured image may be incrementally generated as the line scanner sensorand/or the media physically moves during the scanning. Additionaldetails regarding scanning of the media 401 a and generation of capturedimage are described in more detail with reference to FIG. 8.

In step 515 of method 500, method 500 determines whether a capturedvertical length of the captured image at least equals to (e.g., equalsto or exceeds) a pre-defined vertical length. In some embodiments, thepre-defined vertical length may be defined by the one or more mediaprofiles. In some embodiments, if the method 500 determines that acaptured vertical length of the captured image at least equals to thepre-defined vertical length, method 500 may proceed to step 520. In someembodiments, if the method 500 determines that a captured verticallength of the captured image is less than the pre-defined verticallength, method 500 may continue step 510 and continue scanning of themedia. In some embodiments, vertical length of the captured image may berepresented by a number of pixels in the vertical direction on thecaptured image. The number of the pixels may correspond with a physicalvertical length based on a vertical movement speed of the media and ascan rate of the one or more line scanner sensors.

In step 520 of method 500, based on the detection of 515, upondetermining that the captured vertical length of the captured image atleast equals to the pre-defined vertical length, method 500 maydetermine a media characteristic, such as a media type, media horizontalwidth, or the like, associated with the media based at least on thecaptured image and the one or more media profiles. Additional detailsregarding determining a media type associated with the media aredescribed in more detail with reference to FIG. 7. Additional detailsregarding determining a media horizontal width associated with the mediaare described in more detail with reference to FIG. 9.

In an embodiment, after determining the media type associated with themedia, method 500 may end. In an embodiment, the printer 200 or 400 maygenerate and/or update one or more configurations for calibrating theprinter based on the determined media characteristic associated with themedia to be printed then proceed to print on the media. In someembodiments, the printer 200 or 400 may adjust one or more of componentsbased on the determined media characteristic before printing on themedia. For example, the printer 200 or 400 may adjust a label stopsensor position or a label stop position based on the determined mediatype.

In alternative embodiments consistent with the scope of the appendedclaims, some steps described above may be deleted or added, and somesteps may be performed in a different order or manner.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary scan of a media and associatedgeneration of a captured image of the media according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. The media may include, by way ofexample, label 612 and media liner 616. In some embodiments, a linescanner sensor embedded within the scanner 405 or the verifier 302 maybe utilized. The line scanner sensor may capture two consecutive windows610A and 610B in different times (e.g., 610A may be captured from 1second to 4 seconds after initiation of scanning and 610B may becaptured from 2 seconds to 5 seconds after initiation of scanning) byscanning a portion of the media. In some embodiments, the line scannersensor may scan the same physical location with regard to the linescanner sensor; because the media is moving during the scanning, the twoconsecutive windows 610A and 610B captured in different times representdifferent portions of the media. In some embodiments, a captured imagemay be continuously generated while the line scanner sensors scan themedia. In some embodiments, the captured image may include all output ofthe line scanner sensors while scanning the media. In some embodiments,the captured image may only include an overlapping captured window 614of the two windows 610A and 610B.

In some embodiments, two line scanner sensors embedded within thescanner 405 may be utilized. Each line scanner sensor may be configuredto scan a portion of the media, and each line scanner sensor may beginthe scan in different starting physical locations (which may bepre-defined). The line scanner sensors may continuously scan the mediawhile the media and/or the image scanner moves in the verticaldirection. In some embodiments, the output of each line scanner sensormay be the window 610A or 610B associated with the line scanner sensorcaptured by each of the two line scanner sensors.

In some embodiments, the continuous generation of the captured image maystop after the vertical length of the captured image, which correspondsto the direction of movement of the media and/or the line scanner, atleast equals to a pre-defined vertical length and/or a pre-definedhorizontal width.

As described above and will be discussed in further details, thecaptured image may be analyzed against a media profile received by theprinter. In some embodiments, the result of the analysis may be adetermination of a media characteristic, such as media type, width,length, or the like, associated with the media.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 700 illustrating additionaldetails of an exemplary method for determining media type of a mediaaccording to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Method 700 begins with step 705, where the printer generates one or moreimage characteristic value graphs based on the captured image. Exampleimage characteristic value graphs are illustrated in FIG. 8. An exampleimage characteristic value graph may be in the form of a grayscale valuegraph, a color scale value graph, or the like. In some embodiments, theone or more image characteristic value graphs may be generated by usingone or more pre-defined vertical sample lines 1, 2, and X associatedwith the captured image and extracting image characteristic values alongeach of the pre-defined vertical sample lines 1,2, and X. As illustratedin FIG. 8, the one or more image characteristic value graphs 802, 804,806, 808, 810, and 812 may each correspond to a particular window. Insome embodiments, the vertical axis of the image characteristic valuegraphs represents bitmap image characteristic value and the horizontalaxis of the image characteristic value graphs correspond to locations onthe sample lines. In some embodiments, as the captured images are beingcontinuous generated while the media moves in the vertical direction,the one or more image characteristic value graphs may be accordinglypropagated horizontally.

In step 710 of method 700, method 700 identifies one or more increasesor decreases of image characteristic value in the image characteristicvalue graphs. In some examples, an increase or decrease may beidentified based on a change that exceeds a predetermined amount.Alternatively or additionally, a change may be identified based on aparticular image characteristic value.

In step 715 of method 700, method 700 compares the one or more increasesor decreases of image characteristic values with one or more thresholdsdefined in the media profiles. In step 720 of method 700, method 700determines the media type of the media based on the comparison in step715. Alternatively or additionally, an increase or decrease of imagecharacteristic values may be identified and one or media profiles may begenerated, based on pattern identification, machine learning and/or thelike. Additional details regarding generation of media profiles aredescribed in conjunction with FIG. 11.

For example, one or more decreases of image characteristic values in theone or more image characteristic value graphs may be compared with a gapthreshold defined by a gap media profile previously received in step 505of FIG. 5. If the one or more decreases of image characteristic valuesexceeds the gap threshold, method 700 may determine that the media isassociated with the gap media type. If the one or more decreases ofimage characteristic values do not exceed the gap threshold, method 700may determine that the media is not associated with the gap media type.

In some embodiments, decreases of image characteristic values exceedingthe gap threshold may be required for one or more image characteristicvalue graphs for one particular window for the determination of gapmedia type.

In another example, one or more image characteristic values in the oneor more image characteristic value graphs may be compared with acontinuous threshold defined by a continuous media profile previouslyreceived in step 505 of FIG. 5. If the one or more image characteristicvalues in the one or more image characteristic value graphs do notincrease or decrease by more than the continuous threshold, method 700may determine that the media is associated with the continuous mediatype. In some embodiments, image characteristic values that do notincrease or decrease by more than the continuous threshold may berequired for all image characteristic value graphs for all capturingwindows for the determination of continuous media type.

In another example, one or more image characteristic values in the oneor more image characteristic value graphs may be compared with ablackmark darkness threshold defined by a blackmark media profilepreviously received in step 505 of FIG. 5. If the one or more imagecharacteristic values in the one or more image characteristic valuegraphs do not increase or decrease by more than by more than theblackmark darkness threshold for a length defined by a blackmark sizethreshold. In some embodiments, the blackmark darkness and the blackmarksize threshold are defined by the blackmark media profile, method 900may determine that the media is associated with the blackmark mediatype.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 900 illustrating additionaldetails for determining horizontal width of a media according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIG. 9, method900 begins with step 905, where the printer generates one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs based on the captured image. As illustratedin FIG. 10, the one or more image characteristic value graphs may begenerated using one or more horizontal sample lines 1, 2, and X tosample on the captured image to determine width associated with themedia. Similar to the image characteristic value graphs illustrated inFIG. 8, in some embodiments, the vertical axis of the imagecharacteristic value graphs represents bitmap image characteristic valueand the horizontal axis of the image characteristic value graphscorrespond to locations on the sample lines. In some embodiments, adistance between two points in the horizontal axis of the imagecharacteristic value graphs may be converted to a width in the physicalworld based on a scanning resolution indicated as a scanning dots perinch (DPI) that is pre-defined. Movement speed of media controlled bythe one or more motors and a scan line frequency associated with theline scanner may control the scanning DPI.

For each of the image characteristic value graphs generated, in step 910of method 900, method 900 detects one or more changes of imagecharacteristic value that exceeds a threshold. In some embodiments, thethreshold may be pre-defined.

In step 915 of method 900, method 900 identify a first point and asecond point based on the identified changes of image characteristicvalue. In some embodiments, the first point is associated with adecrease of image characteristic value that exceeds the threshold. Insome embodiments, the second point is associated with an increase ofimage characteristic value that exceeds the threshold.

In step 920 of method 900, method 900 generates a pulse width based onthe distance between the first point and the second point. In someembodiments, pulse width is a width that corresponds with the distancebetween the first point and the second point. Steps 910 to 920 may berepeated for one or more image characteristic value graphs thatcorrespond with one or more sample lines to generate one or more pulsewidths.

In step 925 of method 900, method 900 generates measurement of widthbased on the one or more pulse widths. In some embodiments, method 900generates measurement of width by averaging all the pulse widthsgenerated. Alternatively or additionally, method 900 may generatemeasurement of width by assigning different sample lines differentweights and may generate the measurement of width by generating aweighted average of the one or more pulse widths based on the assignedweights of sample lines associated with the one or more pulse widths.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary method 1100 illustratingadditional details for generating media profiles according to variousembodiments of the present disclosure.

Method 1100 begins with step 1105, where the printer generates a bitmapimage characteristic profile based on a scanning of media. In someembodiments, the scanning of media may be the scanning previouslydescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 5 to 10. The bitmap imagecharacteristic profile may include one or more image characteristicvalue graphs and one or more features generated based on the one or moreimage characteristic value graphs. The one or more features may include,by way of example, one or more detected changes in image characteristicvalues in one or more sample lines, one or more image characteristicvalue change thresholds calculated based on the one or more detectedchanges, one or more positional thresholds associated with physicaldistance represented by the one or more image characteristic valuegraphs, or the like.

In step 1110 of method 1100, the printer may detect an indication withregard to the media type associated with the scanned media. For example,the printer may receive an input associated with a manually adjustedposition of a label stop sensor. The printer may be configured tocorrespond each possible position of the label stop sensor with a mediatype. Accordingly, after the printer receives the input associated witha manually adjusted position of a label stop sensor, the printer mayidentify the media type associated with the manually adjusted position.In another example, the printer may detect that the scanned media isassociated with a particular media type after printing on the mediatype.

In step 1115 of method 1100, the printer may associate the bitmap imagecharacteristic profile with the media type indicated by the indicationin step 1110 and store the bitmap image characteristic profile as amedia profile associated with the media type. In some embodiments, thebitmap image characteristic profile may include the one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs and one or more features generated based onthe one or more image characteristic value graphs. In some embodiments,more than one media profile may be associated with one media type.

IV. Additional Implementation Details

It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts, andcombinations of blocks in the flowcharts, may be implemented by variousmeans, such as hardware, firmware, one or more processors, circuitryand/or other devices associated with execution of software including oneor more computer program instructions. For example, one or more of theprocedures described above may be embodied by computer programinstructions. In this regard, the computer program instructions whichembody the procedures described above may be stored by a memory of anapparatus employing an embodiment of the present invention and executedby a processor in the apparatus. As will be appreciated, any suchcomputer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or otherprogrammable apparatus (e.g., hardware) to produce a machine, such thatthe resulting computer or other programmable apparatus provides forimplementation of the functions specified in the flowcharts' block(s).These computer program instructions may also be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable storage memory that may direct acomputer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablestorage memory produce an article of manufacture, the execution of whichimplements the function specified in the flowcharts' block(s). Thecomputer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable apparatus to cause a series of operations to beperformed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce acomputer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute onthe computer or other programmable apparatus provide operations forimplementing the functions specified in the flowcharts' block(s). Assuch, the operations of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, when executed, convert acomputer or processing circuitry into a particular machine configured toperform an example embodiment of the present invention. Accordingly, theoperations of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 define an algorithm for configuring acomputer or processor, to perform an example embodiment. In some cases,a general purpose computer may be provided with an instance of theprocessor which performs the algorithm of FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 to transformthe general purpose computer into a particular machine configured toperform an example embodiment.

Accordingly, blocks/steps of the flowchart support combinations of meansfor performing the specified functions and combinations of operationsfor performing the specified functions. It will also be understood thatone or more blocks of the flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computersystems which perform the specified functions, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

In the specification and figures, typical embodiments of the disclosurehave been disclosed. The present disclosure is not limited to suchexemplary embodiments. The use of the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The figuresare schematic representations and so are not necessarily drawn to scale.Unless otherwise noted, specific terms have been used in a generic anddescriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flow charts,schematics, exemplary data structures, and examples. Insofar as suchblock diagrams, flow charts, schematics, exemplary data structures, andexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, each functionand/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, schematics,exemplary data structures, or examples can be implemented, individuallyand/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, orvirtually any combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the present subject matter may be implemented viaApplication Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). However, theembodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalentlyimplemented in standard integrated circuits, as one or more computerprograms running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programsrunning on one or more computer systems), as one or more programsrunning on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers), as one ormore programs running on one or more processors (e.g., microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof.

In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the controlmechanisms taught herein are capable of being distributed as a programproduct in a variety of tangible forms, and that an illustrativeembodiment applies equally regardless of the particular type of tangibleinstruction bearing media used to actually carry out the distribution.Examples of tangible instruction bearing media include, but are notlimited to, the following: recordable type media such as floppy disks,hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digital tape, flash drives, and computermemory.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the presentsystems and methods in light of the above-detailed description.Accordingly, the disclosure is not limited by the disclosure, butinstead its scope is to be determined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: generating a bitmapimage characteristic profile of a scanned media; detecting an indicationwith regards to a media type associated with the scanned media; andassociating the bitmap image characteristic profile and the media typeto create a media profile.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe bitmap image characteristic profile comprises one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs and one or more features generated based onthe one or more image characteristic value graphs.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the one or more features comprise one ormore detected changes in image characteristic values in one or moresample lines associated with a line scanner sensor.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the one or more features comprise one ormore image characteristic value change thresholds calculated based onone or more detected changes.
 5. The method according to claim 2,wherein the one or more features comprise one or more positionalthresholds associated with a physical distance represented by the one ormore image characteristic value graphs.
 6. The method according to claim1, wherein detecting the indication with regard to the media typeassociated with the scanned media is based on receiving an inputassociated with a manually adjusted position of a label stop sensor. 7.The method according to claim 6, further comprising: corresponding eachpossible position associated with the label stop sensor with acorresponding media type.
 8. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe media profile associated with the media type is stored in a printer.9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of mediaprofiles are associated with one media type.
 10. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the media type comprises at least one of a gap mediatype, a continuous media type, or a blackmark media type.
 11. A printercomprising: a line scanner configured to scan a media; and a processorconfigured to: generate a bitmap image characteristic profile of thescanned media; detect an indication with regards to a media typeassociated with the scanned media; and associate the bitmap imagecharacteristic profile and the media type to create a media profile. 12.The printer according to claim 11, wherein the bitmap imagecharacteristic profile comprises one or more image characteristic valuegraphs and one or more features generated based on the one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs.
 13. The printer according to claim 12,wherein the one or more features comprise one or more detected changesin image characteristic values in one or more sample lines associatedwith a line scanner sensor.
 14. The printer according to claim 12,wherein the one or more features comprise one or more imagecharacteristic value change thresholds calculated based on one or moredetected changes.
 15. The printer according to claim 12, wherein the oneor more features comprise one or more positional thresholds associatedwith a physical distance represented by the one or more imagecharacteristic value graphs.
 16. The printer according to claim 11,wherein, when detecting the indication with regard to the media typeassociated with the scanned media, the processor is configured to:receive an input associated with a manually adjusted position of a labelstop sensor.
 17. The printer according to claim 16, wherein theprocessor is configured to: correspond each possible position associatedwith the label stop sensor with a corresponding media type.
 18. Theprinter according to claim 11, wherein the media profile associated withthe media type is stored in the printer.
 19. The printer according toclaim 11, wherein a plurality of media profiles are associated with onemedia type.
 20. The printer according to claim 11, wherein the mediatype comprises at least one of a gap media type, a continuous mediatype, or a blackmark media type.